High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Citibank vs. UFB Direct

Compare rates, requirements, and features side-by-side to find the best option for you.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated January 7, 2026
Comparison of Citibank vs UFB Direct savings accounts
Metric

Citibank

Citi Accelerate Savings

Jan 7, 2026

UFB Direct

UFB Checking and Savings Bundle

Jan 7, 2026
APY3.30%3.26% - 3.46%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$165
$10,000+$330
$25,000+$825
$5,000+$163
$10,000+$346
$25,000+$865
Min Deposit
$0$5000

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
Eligibility restricted to select states.The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.46% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. The checking account earns 2% APY. See bank for full details.
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® Supported
FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDirect Deposit ReqChecking Bundle

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.21% APY.

See Top Rates

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Citibank vs. UFB Direct

Updated: Jan 7, 2026

As of Citibank offers an APY of 3.30% for its Citi Accelerate Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01, compared to UFB Direct's 3.46% APY for its UFB Checking and Savings Bundle account, with a minimum balance of $10,000.

UFB Direct pays $16 more than Citibank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Citibank pays $330, while UFB Direct pays $346 - an APY advantage for UFB Direct.

In addition, Citibank also offers 0.03% APY for the Citi® Savings Account account, with a minimum balance of $0.01, while UFB Direct offers 3.26% APY for the UFB Portfolio Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.

Why Citibank?

  • Physical branch access (U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami.)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 4.3)
  • Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,500 a day)

Why UFB Direct?

  • Offers 2.00% APY on Checking Account in addition to the savings APY
  • Access to over 90,000 fee-free ATMs
  • Higher potential APY (3.26%-3.46% vs 3.30%) (requires checking bundle & direct deposit)
  • Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
UFB Direct

UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $346 vs $330/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
UFB Direct

UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $865 vs $825/yr).

Best for All-in-One Banking
UFB Direct

UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.

Shared Benefits

Both banks have options with $0 opening deposit Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pays $16 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings.

*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.

CitibankUFB Direct

Executive Summary as of

Citibank offers the Citi Accelerate Savings account with a competitive APY of 3.30%, available to customers in select states. The account has no minimum deposit requirement and waives the maintenance fee with an average monthly balance over $500. In contrast, UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle provides a higher APY of 3.46% but requires a checking account, a minimum deposit of $5,000, and a balance of $10,000 to achieve this rate. While both banks offer online-only services, UFB Direct's bundle may yield better returns for those willing to meet the conditions, especially for larger deposits.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.

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Citibank

Non-sponsored link to official site

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UFB Direct

* Secure link to our partner

Top Market Contenders

Ally Bank
3.30% APY
Discover Bank
3.40% APY
American Express
3.30% APY

Citibank vs. UFB Direct Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Citi Accelerate Savings and UFB Checking and Savings Bundle
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You earn $16 more with UFB Direct than Citibank on a $10,000 initial deposit for 1 year*.

*This calculation assumes that APYs remain unchanged for 1 year, and takes into account known promo rate periods, but does not factor in bonuses. You can see how often these banks have changed their rates in the Compare Savings Rates Over Time section below.

Citibank

Citi Accelerate Savings

3.30% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$330.00(3.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,330.00

Effective APY
3.30%

UFB Direct

UFB Checking and Savings Bundle

3.46% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$346.00(3.3%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,346.00

Effective APY
3.46%

The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.

FeatureCitibankUFB Direct
APY
3.30%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.10%90d Change
3.46%
Range: 3.26% - 3.46%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.50%90d Change
Product NameCiti Accelerate SavingsUFB Checking and Savings Bundle
Minimum Deposit$0$5000
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$10,000
Monthly Fee$4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.None
Required
Checking BundleNo Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.8
iOS4.8
Android4.3
Zelle® Support
Available
Limit: $2,500/dayTiered limits based on account status (Citigold higher).
Not Supported
BBB RatingD-A+
Important NotesEligibility restricted to select states.The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.46% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. The checking account earns 2% APY. See bank for full details.
Next Steps
Visit Site

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* Secure link to our partner

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricCitibankUFB Direct
Citi® Savings AccountCiti Accelerate SavingsUFB Checking and Savings BundleUFB Portfolio Savings
Current APY
0.03%3.30%3.46%3.26%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
0.0-4.8-6.3-5.8
Days Since Change
3445011
11-Month High
0.03%3.80%4.21%4.01%
11-Month Low
0.03%3.30%3.46%3.26%
Adjustments / Mo
0.000.520.430.43
Volatility Score
0.0000.0480.0600.062
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)

Trends & Velocity

  • Trend: The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for spotting if a bank is currently aggressive or pulling back.
  • Velocity (bps/mo): Speed of change. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. 10 bps = 0.10%.
  • Adjustments/Mo: "Twitchiness." High frequency means the rate changes constantly; low frequency means it's stable.

Risk & Range

  • High/Low: The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 345-day window.
  • Volatility Score: Lower is better for predictability. It indicates how wildly the rate swings relative to its average.
  • Days Since Change: If this number is high (e.g., >90), the rate is very sticky. If low, it changed recently.

More Comparisons

Compare Citibank's APY of 3.30% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Citibank vs Affirm3.20%$0
Citibank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Citibank vs American Express3.30%$0
Citibank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Citibank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Citibank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Citibank vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
Citibank vs Betterment3.25%$10
Citibank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Citibank vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
Citibank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Citibank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Citibank vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
Citibank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Citibank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Citibank vs Chime3.50%$0
Citibank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Citibank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Citibank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Citibank vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
Citibank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Citibank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
Citibank vs Elevault3.82%$0
Citibank vs EverBank3.90%$0
Citibank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Citibank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Citibank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Citibank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Citibank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Citibank vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
Citibank vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
Citibank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Citibank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Citibank vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
Citibank vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
Citibank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Citibank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Citibank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Citibank vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
Citibank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Citibank vs PNC3.30%$0
Citibank vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
Citibank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Citibank vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
Citibank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Citibank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Citibank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Citibank vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
Citibank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Citibank vs TD Bank2.60%$0
Citibank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Citibank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Citibank vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
Citibank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Citibank vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
Citibank vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
Citibank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Citibank vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10
Compare UFB Direct's APY of 3.46% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
UFB Direct vs Affirm3.20%$0
UFB Direct vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
UFB Direct vs American Express3.30%$0
UFB Direct vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
UFB Direct vs Bank of America0.01%$100
UFB Direct vs Barclays4.00%$0
UFB Direct vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
UFB Direct vs Betterment3.25%$10
UFB Direct vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
UFB Direct vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
UFB Direct vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
UFB Direct vs Capital One3.40%$0
UFB Direct vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
UFB Direct vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
UFB Direct vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
UFB Direct vs Chime3.50%$0
UFB Direct vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
UFB Direct vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
UFB Direct vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
UFB Direct vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
UFB Direct vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
UFB Direct vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
UFB Direct vs Elevault3.82%$0
UFB Direct vs EverBank3.90%$0
UFB Direct vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
UFB Direct vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
UFB Direct vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
UFB Direct vs FVCbank3.85%$500
UFB Direct vs GO2bank4.50%$0
UFB Direct vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
UFB Direct vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
UFB Direct vs LendingClub4.00%$0
UFB Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
UFB Direct vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
UFB Direct vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
UFB Direct vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
UFB Direct vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
UFB Direct vs Openbank4.20%$500
UFB Direct vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
UFB Direct vs Pibank4.60%$0
UFB Direct vs PNC3.30%$0
UFB Direct vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
UFB Direct vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
UFB Direct vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
UFB Direct vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
UFB Direct vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
UFB Direct vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
UFB Direct vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
UFB Direct vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
UFB Direct vs TD Bank2.60%$0
UFB Direct vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
UFB Direct vs Upgrade3.05%$0
UFB Direct vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
UFB Direct vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
UFB Direct vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
UFB Direct vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
UFB Direct vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
UFB Direct vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10